Well, I am tall and have to bend over double, but mainly it's my
eyesight. I can't tell if the feeler gauge is going in straight or not --
if it's cocked and dragging I can wind up setting the gap way too wide.
Also I tend to drop the tiny screws which then vanish into the leaf
litter.
Possibly my negative atitude towards point adjustment can be traced to my
other vehicle. My Plymouth has a dual-point distributor mounted at the
center back of the V8, otherwise known as the "pole of inaccessibility".
In fact, you can barely reach the bolt which secures the distributor in
order to remove it. It would take a remote control miniature robot to
replace and adjust the points in position. Or you could remove the hood
and squat on the air cleaner, I suppose...
Dave Wood had this to say:
>Max,
>
>I have never taken my distributor out to change the points, maybe I'm
>shorter than you. I use a dwell meter and adjust while cranking. Then put
>the cap on and check while running. I usually have to readjust a bit as the
>cranking dwell and running dwell are a couple of degrees off and I forget
>from one set of points to another how much to compensate for. I just
>purchased a Pertronix for my 72 B but haven't put it in yet. Too many kids
>cars to fix first. I usually know to change points when my B doesn't start
>within a couple of seconds of cranking. I don't mind setting the points,
>but thought the electronic ignition might make the old ragtop run a bit
>better.
>
>Dave 72 B
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
>Cc: MG CHAT LIST <mgs@autox.team.net>
>Date: Friday, March 24, 2000 10:16 AM
>Subject: Re: Ignition
>
>
>>I may have stated this before, but in my opinion the chief benefit of
>>"pointless" ignition in the B is that it saves the hassle of removing and
>>replacing the distributor. At least, I have always found it necessary to
>>remove the distributor to replace and set the points (can't see 'em way
>>down there in the engine bay, at least not well enough to measure to the
>>nearest one-thousandth), and the distributor clamp bolts are a pain to
>>get at, while you shouldn't undo the actual clamp at all due to the
>>fragile nature of the distributor base. Reliability aside, I think the
>>time savings at every scheduled tune-up justify the expense. I do keep a
>>points set-up in the boot in case of electronics failure, but it remains
>>undisturbed after 11 years.
>>
>>I have an older Allison unit, but if I were to do it today I think I
>>would go for the Pertronix unit that fits entirely within the distributor
>>cap, for appearance reasons (not that anyone who saw my engine
>>compartment would think I gave a fig for appearances).
>>
>>
>>>>From: rsexson@excite.com
>>>>To: mgs@autox.team.net
>>>>Subject: Ignition
>>>>Date: Thu, Mar 23, 2000, 1:51 PM
>>>>
>>>
>>>> I would like to know the best type of electronic ignation to install on
>my
>>>> 74.5 B [25D distributor], or is it best to keep the points.
>>>>
>>>> Opinions please.
>>>>
>>>> R, Sexson
>>>> 74.5 B [ 75% ]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite
>>>> Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>Max Heim
>>'66 MGB GHN3L76149
>>If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>>it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
>>
>>
>
>
--
===============================
Max Heim
mvheim@studiolimage.com
Studio L'Image/San Francisco
415 643 9309 : 415 643 9307 fax
Studio L'Image/New York
212 242 3366 : 212 242 3399 fax
www.studiolimage.com
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